The Indianapolis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association will host the FBI Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) on June 8-10, 2022.

The YLA is designed to promote an educational experience that will provide students with valuable leadership training and a greater understanding of the FBI. Through interactive physical challenges and classroom discussions we seek to further explain to youth how the FBI addresses the concerns of the community. Utilizing FBI strategic planning techniques and exercises, participants will have the opportunity to hone their decision making and leadership skills.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unknown at this time if this program will take place in person. If so, this camp will be a two day, two night residential event, and will be hosted at Bradford Woods, Indiana University’s experiential learning center, located just south of Mooresville, on State Road 67. Its 2,500 acres are dedicated to the enrichment and education of youth and adults from all over the country.

Students will be housed on site and chaperoned by FBI personnel. If it is deemed not safe to host the overnight camp, the FBI will offer a virtual or hybrid version of the program. Details for either option will be provided directly to those who apply.

To be considered, the student must:

1. be a current junior at time of application;
2. have a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale);
3. possess qualities of leadership, scholastic achievement and good citizenship;
4. commit to attending the entire program; and
5. write an essay of no more than 500 words depicting their interest in the program and how it will enhance their future plans.

Those interested must complete the application, which requires a signature from both a parent or guardian and the principal (digital signature is acceptable).

Completed applications and essays should be mailed to: Kathryn Sipes, Community Outreach Specialist, FBI Indianapolis, 8825 Nelson B. Klein Parkway, Indianapolis, IN 46250, or emailed to kdsipes@fbi.gov. All applications must be received by April 1, 2022.

Parents and/or guardians do not have to be present for the sessions. Students must arrange their own transportation. There is no cost for students to participate; lodging and all meals are included.

Should you have questions, please contact Kathryn Sipes, Community Ourtreach Specialist at (317) 845-7035 or at kdsipes@fbi.gov.

One Bread One Cup (OBOC): July 6-10

This is a five day liturgical leadership conference at St. Meinrad from July 6-10, 2022. Throughout the week, rising sophomores through rising seniors will meet other young people from across the nation who are fired up about their faith. Students will be trained in a specific liturgical ministry (ex. lector, instrumental musician, altar server, chant, etc.) with the intent to return to your parish and school equipped to lead. But it’s so much more than that!

In addition to this liturgical training, students will attend large group faith formation sessions which will give you a deeper insight into what it means live a Catholic life focused on Jesus, specifically as a young person. The evenings are a time for theological reflection groups, a chance to look back on our day and see where God has been present.

If that hasn’t sold you, there’s also a ton of silly fun to be had! Think of the Crazy Hat Dance — everyone wears their grooviest hat and breaks it down on the dance floor as the college interns DJ. Or the Ultimate Frisbee Challenge – all one hundred and something high school participants take on twenty or so college interns. Not to mention opportunities to meet some really cool monks!

Currently, OBOC is offered to BCHS students on an invitation-only basis, and there are limited spots. Contact Joel Kelley no later than February 18th if you are interested in attending. We are still calculating cost, but it will be less than $500 per student.

[alert]Rising sophomores: participating in OBOC will count for ALL of your sophomore Christian Service hours for next year. You will come into school with them already completed.[/alert]

Marian University’s Missionary Disciples Institute: June 13-17

Bishop Chatard encourages rising sophomore to rising seniors to consider Marian University’s Missionary Disciples Institute!

Missionary Disciples Institute (MDI) is a youth theological institute that prepares 75 high school leaders to grow as missionary disciples ready to serve their community through the Church. Youth participants will move onto Marian’s campus for one-week over the summer – June 13-17, 2022. During their time on campus, students will live in an intentional community of high school leaders from around the country, discover dynamic ways to pray, be mentored by college students preparing to be Church leaders, learn from brilliant MU theologians, and, ultimately, build a mission plan designed to help share the joy of the Gospel in practical/concrete ways with their peers.

This opportunity is currently only available to students on an invite-only basis. If your student has been invited, please encourage them to apply! You need to sign up by March 1st at the latest, so don’t delay!

BCHS School Counselors are keeping a list of the many summer programs offered at colleges and other institutions nationwide, as they receive information during the next months.  Check out their list below! Items will be added and visible throughout the spring.

Direct Employers Institute’s offers three types of programs to introduce students in high school to STEM careers.

STEM YES!
This summer program provides students who are low-income, from underrepresented groups, and have disabilities, the opportunity to gain hands-on project-based experiences and workplace learning opportunities with local employers to prepare them to enter high wage careers in STEM and explore business practices with local employers.

During each session, students develop competencies in teamwork, business planning, presentation skills, social etiquette, soft skills and career, and college preparation, while exploring and learning about the various fields that STEM has to offer. Job shadowing (at sites such as Eli Lilly, Salesforce, Duke Realty, Dow AgroSciencews, IUPUI Forensic Science and more), research, projects, information technology, and more opportunities are included!

Job Shadows and Internships

An important part of the organization’s mission is to arrange for local employers to provide one-day to one-week job shadowing opportunities, predominantly for students in grades 8-10, and one to two semester-long internship experiences for students in grades 11 and 12.

Workplace Simulation Program

The Workplace Simulation Program is a project in which we bring central and southern Indiana employers and schools together to show underrepresented and underexposed students what a career in STEM looks like. This program allows the students to apply their classroom learning to a real STEM problem during school hours and under the guidance and mentorship of STEM professionals

What is Direct Employers Institute?

DirectEmployers Institute is a nonprofit organization that enables middle and high school students to explore STEM careers with Central Indiana employers. With a focus on serving Central Indiana students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged due to underrepresentation or disabilities, the foundation’s mission is to inspire and prepare the next generation to meet the needs of a more diverse global workforce.

Read more about programs at the institute at  directemployersfoundation.org .